Antofagasta plc (LON: ANTO) will invest USD$900 million to extend the life of its Zaldívar copper mine in northern Chile to 2051, replacing freshwater use with treated wastewater as part of a major sustainability initiative.
The company announced the investment at the Exponor mining and energy conference. Zaldívar is jointly owned by Antofagasta and Barrick Mining Corp. (TSE: ABX) (NYSE: B).
The project includes a new water conveyance and pumping system that will transport treated wastewater from sanitation company Econssa to the mine beginning in 2028. Consequently, Zaldívar will eliminate the use of continental freshwater in its operations.
Antofagasta said the investment will support construction activities starting in the second half of this year. Additionally, the work could create as many as 5,000 jobs during peak construction.
The extension secures another 25 years of production at a mine that has operated for more than three decades in Chile’s Antofagasta region.
Company president Iván Arriagada said the project marks both a celebration of Zaldívar’s 31-year history and a commitment to its future. Furthermore, he said the mine will continue operating while reducing its environmental impact.
Arriagada also said Antofagasta will build the water transport and pumping network from the La Negra sector to the operation. He added that construction is beginning this year and will create significant opportunities for workers, suppliers and other industries connected to the project.
The shift away from continental water addresses a major challenge for mining companies in northern Chile. Water scarcity and tighter environmental requirements have pushed producers to seek alternative water sources across the country’s arid mining regions.
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Multiple factors help expand opportunities
Additionally, the use of treated wastewater could serve as a model for other mining operations looking to reduce pressure on freshwater supplies.
Economy and Mining Minister Daniel Mas said the investment demonstrates how regulatory certainty, technical innovation and collaboration can support long-term development. He said those factors help expand opportunities beyond purely economic benefits.
Meanwhile, the investment reflects continued confidence in Chile’s copper industry. Demand for the metal is expected to increase as electrification projects expand worldwide.
Copper remains a key material for electric vehicles, power grids and renewable energy infrastructure. Consequently, producers continue investing in projects that can maintain long-term supply while improving environmental performance.
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